Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa) is in the Sandpipers and Allies family (Scolopacidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 24,335 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in September.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
Conservation status (iNaturalist): VU.
When to photograph Marbled Godwit: observations by month (U.S.)
About Marbled Godwit
The marbled godwit (Limosa fedoa) is a large shorebird. On average, it is the largest of the 4 species of godwit. The total length is 40–50 cm (16–20 in), including a large bill of 8–13 cm (3.1–5.1 in), and wingspan is 70–88 cm (28–35 in). Body mass can vary from 240 to 510 g (8.5 to 18.0 oz).From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Marbled Godwit by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 18,302 | September | Jul–Apr |
| Texas | 1,462 | April | Jul–Apr |
| Florida | 1,236 | March | Jul–Apr |
| Washington | 367 | August | Aug–Oct |
| South Carolina | 304 | March | Oct–Apr |
| Oregon | 227 | April | Apr–May |
| Virginia | 172 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Montana | 166 | June | May–Jul |
| North Carolina | 160 | October | Oct–Oct |
| North Dakota | 151 | June | Apr–Jun |
| Colorado | 137 | April | Apr–May |
| Utah | 126 | April | Apr–May |
| Mississippi | 121 | April | Dec–Apr |
| South Dakota | 112 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Alaska | 103 | May | Apr–May |
| Minnesota | 96 | May | Apr–Jun |
| New Jersey | 95 | August | Aug–Oct |
| Arizona | 75 | April | Apr–Oct |
| Massachusetts | 71 | August | Aug–Oct |
| New York | 64 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Maryland | 63 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Delaware | 59 | October | Sep–Nov |
| Ohio | 58 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Louisiana | 57 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Alabama | 53 | October | Sep–Dec |
| Illinois | 50 | May | Apr–May |
| Michigan | 49 | May | Apr–Aug |
| New Mexico | 44 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Kansas | 38 | April | Apr–May |
| Georgia | 36 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Idaho | 35 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Wyoming | 31 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Oklahoma | 28 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Wisconsin | 25 | May | Apr–May |
| Nebraska | 22 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Missouri | 18 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Rhode Island | 18 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Pennsylvania | 16 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Connecticut | 15 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Nevada | 15 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Indiana | 11 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Maine | 11 | August | Aug–Oct |
| Iowa | 8 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Tennessee | 8 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Vermont | 7 | September | Sep–Sep |
| New Hampshire | 6 | August | Aug–Aug |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Sandpipers and Allies)
Willet
Sanderling
Least Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Ruddy Turnstone
Long-billed Curlew
Hudsonian Whimbrel
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Marbled Godwit?
Nationally, September has the most observations, with the main season from July to May.
Where is Marbled Godwit most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Texas, Florida.